Topic > Drug Smuggling Report

“Drug traffickers mix legitimate business with their illicit activities, in part, so that the former can hide the latter” (Woody, 2017). This commonly occurs through food importation, where drugs are hidden among food products. An example of how this happens is evident in a case where a shipment of jalapenos and cucumbers was sent (as a legitimate business), in which over 200 pounds of methamphetamine was hidden. Many other foods can be used for smuggling, including; watermelons, pineapples, tortillas, salsa, cakes, frozen fish, etc. (Woody, 2017) Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Narcotics are commonly transported via vehicles, and most food smuggling, in particular, occurs via ships or trucks. Another method used involves air transportation, including both small private planes and larger commercial planes. In terms of drug smuggling into South Africa, only some drugs are stored for local consumption, the majority are sent overseas (commonly to Europe) by air. Therefore, South Africa is used as an entry point for the redistribution of drugs. These drugs most commonly enter the country through our two busiest entry points, OR Tambo International Airport and the Port of Durban. (Rall, 2017) To transport drugs across these borders, whether by road or air, people commonly use the following concealment methods: Please note: This is just a sample. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Customize hide them in their stomachs, “most [drug] mules ingest packets of drugs – usually balloons or tightly wrapped condoms – swallowing them and carrying them across borders into their stomachs. “ (Woody, 2017). This method of drug smuggling is the most common and well-known way to go undetected. People may also carry drugs on their person, where narcotics may be hidden “in wigs, prosthetic limbs, secured under clothing, or in any cavity they can think of, [including the anus.]” (Woody, 2017). There was also a case in Panama where a woman was found to have cocaine hidden in her breast implants or perhaps hiding it in her personal belongings. Drugs have been found hidden “in wheelchairs, Bibles, children's books, tampon boxes and even inside the shell of an X-Box.” (Unknown, 2018). Another method of smuggling involves tunnels, this method is especially prevalent across the US-Mexico border. These are not regular tunnels, Woody calls them “super-tunnels equipped with electric lights, motorized trolleys and ventilation systems that cross the US border like veins”. (Woody, 2017). However, this method is only used by large and sophisticated smuggling organizations. Another difficult to detect method used for smuggling involves the use of submarines, called “narcotic submarines” (Woody, 2017). These submarines are extremely expensive to make; however, they can smuggle huge quantities of narcotics, making the profits worth the investment. Catapults have also been used with which drugs are literally thrown across national borders. However, a more modern and technologically advanced way to bring these drugs across borders involves the use of drones. The drugs are tied to a drone and transported directly across borders. The first case of this form of smuggling was discovered in January 2015. Profile/characteristics A search.